barring

American

[bahr-ing] / ˈbɑr ɪŋ /

preposition

excepting; except for.

Barring accidents, I'll be there.

barring British

/ ˈbɑːrɪŋ /

preposition

unless (something) occurs; except for

barring rain, the match will be held tomorrow

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of barring

First recorded in 1475–85; bar ¹ + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

barring

It’s almost hard to fathom how any other individual could surpass his wealth, barring some company-specific problem.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

The guilty pleas came shortly after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation barring third-party brokers from advertising, selling or transferring tee-time reservations at publicly owned golf courses without the written consent of the course operator.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026

She’s Alive fired Seaver and his security firm last week, barring him and his employees from entering any of Parton’s properties, according to court papers filed by the company.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

Nearly everyone standing behind the podium, barring a city council member or two, held a similar picture.

From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026

The high hedge curved with them, running off into the distance beyond the pair of impressive wrought-iron gates barring the men’s way.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023